Toy



F. HQ PIERCE May 23,. 1939, i

Filed Aug. 11, 1957 mwa W HOC/M ATTORNEYS padd ` Il tached thereto inwhich F j lment of the invention with the ,m struck by a ball.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOY FrankH. Pierce, New York, N. Y.,assignor of seventy per cent to Samuel E. Witt, New York,

Application August 11, 1937, Serial `No. 158,459

` y 2 claims; (o1. is- 191) 1 This invention relates to improvements intoys `and more particularly toys in which abat or `a le `and areturnball `attached thereto Vis used.

` l5.; `Anobject of the .invention is to provide an improved toy havinga bat and return ball ata snapping noise or signal will be given whenthe `ball is properly struck or in winch a signal is heard when the 10,ball leaves the bat or paddle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved bat havingornamental features not hitherto employed in bats of this character.

` 1li` `Further objects of this invention will be apparent `from thespecification and drawing in ",Qwhichzf 1 is a top planview of the toy,Awith the A @striking disk member partially broken away.

20 Fig. 2 isa sectional view on the line 2--2 ci Figi' 3 is a bottomp1an view, with the striking disk member partially broken away.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of another embodistrikingV disk o memberpartially broken away.

` `Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on the w {,iine s, 6 5, s of Fig.4.

i i, Referring to Fig. 1, this shows a bat or padafdle having an upperor striking portion I and fa lower or handle portion I a. The bat orpaddle can, be made of any suitable material, such i f' was Wood, fibreboard or the like.

' As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the front face of l", `iggpthe bat isprovided with a recess `2a at the central part of the upper portion Iof7said bat. Said recess 2a is adapted to receive a striking `diskmember 2, stamped out of any metal or other material adapted to` give asignal when Said disk 2 is stampedor otherf j wise` treated to' form aconvex springy surface as clearly shown in Fig. 2 and the rolethisconvex. disk 2 Vplays in giving a signal will be hereinafter explained.

" ,45 As shown in Fig. 2, said disk member 2 is provided .withaperipheral wall adapted to lt into the recess. 2a. Preferably, the diskmember 2 A is "retained in the recessla by pins 5 as indicat- `fed inFig. 1. The use of pins or the like may C5`0 be obviated when theconstruction oi?` the" disk 1 C 'V `member 2 is such that When'it issnapped into `theqrecess`2a its peripheral wall Will abut the wjyerticalwalls of the recess 2a and the disk will libe` held securely in positionbyv a irictional or 56 force nt between its peripheral wall and the ver-`flush with the playing Wall of the paddle'.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, theY rear part of' the upper `portion il. ofthe bat is provided with i'f an opening 4 which is countersunk at :4a.Said opening 4 is located opposite the recess 2a and communicatestherewith. The opening 4 is coun` tersunk so as to retain a` leaf spring3. Said spring 3 serves to maintain the disk member 2 10 in convex orbulged out form. Furthermore said spring 3 is adapted to yield incooperation with the disk member when the latter is struck by a ball.

The reference numeral 'l indicates a rubber 15 ball having an elastic orrubber string 6, one

end of which is secured to the ball 1 and the opposite end to the bat orpaddle by a tack 8 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A snapping noise, signal or a series of signals may be given or noisesmay be emitted as follows:

The player grips the handle portion la` of the bat or paddle and impartsa swinging movement thereto. The elastic string 6 will stretch 25 andsaid string being attached to the bat, the ball 1 will perforce returnto said paddle and if controlled accurately will strike the disk member2 causing the same to yield together with the spring 3 and said disk andspring will assume a 30 slightly concave position as shown by the dottedlines in Fig. 2.

This will produce a signal or noise. The disk member 2 and the spring 3will then immediately tion thus causing a second signal to be given.

` That is, a double signal is produced and this may be repeatedindenitely if the player accurately aims and controls the return ball.

It is obvious that my improved toy paddle serves the useful purpose ofan accuracy testing device in the nature of a noise producing target.That is, if the disc member 2 is properly struck, at substantially itscentral portion, a noise will be emitted, thus informing the player thathe has scored a hit. In this way the players skill may be readilytested.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the invention and provides certainornamental features. The bat or paddle l is provided with a recess atits upper or striking portion. Said recess is adapted to receive aconvex disk member 9. Said disk member 9 is provided with a peripheraliiange and is securely held in said recess by a frlctional or force fitbetween the peripheral flange and the vertical walls of the recess.

vAn elastic or rubber string 6 is secured to one end to a ball 1 and atits opposite end to the disk member 9 by aknot l2 through an opening inthe center of the disk. When the player causes the ball to strike thedisk 9 as shown in Fig. 5, the disk member 9 is forced inwardly thusproducing a signal. When the ball leaves the disk and the elastic 6stretches outwardly, an outward pressure is exerted on said disk memberand it then assumes the convex position shown in Fig. 6, thus producinga signal. These signals are independent of each other.

Fig. 4 shows two openings Il having varying colored windows l0. Thesewindows may be peered through by the user and the bat or paddle nowserves as a mask or the like giving the user an additional toy.

While I have shown the disk member 2, the recess 3a and the opening 4 ascircular, I do not Wish to be limited in this respect. They may besquare or of any desired shape. Likewise, they may be of any desireddiameter. Nor do I wish to be limited to any particular form, style orshape of paddle or bat.

I have shown preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is clear thatnumerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from itsspirit.

I claim:

1. A toy or the like comprising a paddle having a recess in one sidethereof, a disk member located in said recess, a return ball attached tosaid paddle, said disk member being ilexible and having a normallyconvex face, said face being adapted to assume a concave position and toproduce a snapping noise when struck by said ball and being adapted toreturn to its normal position when said ball rebounds from said face.

2. A toy or the like comprising a paddle having a recess in one sidethereof, a disk member located in said recess, a return ball attached tosaid disk member, said disk member being flexible and having a normallyconvex face, said face being adapted to assume a concave position and toproduce a snapping noise Vwhen struck by said ball `and being adapted toreturn to its normal position when said ball rebounds from said face.

FRANK H. PIERCE.

